Friday, January 30

This was reported earlier today in the Mirror, but it seems the page has gone now... perhaps the news wasn't meant to get out:

ETA: Nope, the page was there, it was just being elusive. You can find it here

New Tritovore baddies set to be scariest ever

He's dealt with some tough baddies, but Doctor Who will face his scariest yet - a halfman half-fly creature.

Called the Tritovore, it will be unleashed in the Easter special to do battle with the Timelord and sidekick Lady Christina de Souza - played by former EastEnders star Michelle Ryan.

Bosses want the monster to become as iconic as the Daleks and Cybermen.

A set source said: "Scriptwriters are confident they'll make a huge impact... Everyone remembers the Daleks and the Cyberman, but not a lot else if they're honest. The Tritovore will change that. They are disgusting and will last long in the memory."

Series boss Russell T Davies is hoping to use the creatures in three other special shows.

David Tennant quits as the doctor this year. The source added: "Russell is telling everybody to expect some real surprises. He wants him to go out with a bang."

Thursday, January 29

Yup, according to OffTheTelly, David Tennant will be co-hosting some of comic relief this year!

Who’s hosting Comic Relief

David Tennant will be hosting the first hour of Comic Relief Night it’s been revealed today.

Due to air on 13 March, the Doctor Who star will co-present with Davina McCall.

In a pre-recorded video screened at this morning’s press launch at The Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, he said: “It’s a great honour for me. I remember the first Red Nose Day when I was at school, buying the t-shirt and everyone joining in, And then, later, at drama school, me and my mate Alan McCue formed a Proclaimers tribute act and went busking in Sauchiehall Street. We were rubbish, but earned £65 in our lunch hour. The people of Glasgow are very generous.”

Also confirmed for this year’s bash, are Steve Jones and Claudia Winkleman, who’ll be hosting the celebrity-packed Let’s Dance for Comic Relief; Fearne Cotton, Denise Van Outen, Alesha Dixon, Cheryl Cole, Kimberly Walsh, Ben Shephard, Chris Moyles, Ronan Keating and Gary Barlow who’ll be attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro; a special episode of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and - best of all - Comic Relief Does the Apprentice.

FX: There are four free-standing poles in a square around the plinth, and from them, a FLASH OF BLUE LASER BEAMS activates. Low hum of power. The square of guards are standing outside the fence, all facing out.

SECURITY GUARD (CONT'D)

Night then boys

He leaves. Footsteps echoing. The door shuts, SLAM!

Silence. Guards on duty.

PAN up the room, from the plinth & FX beams to...

The ceiling, a panel slides open, silently -

I think this is a description of the beginning of the episode, when Michelle steals whatever she does from the Museum.

Back at the tunnel again, as you can see there are lots of UNIT soldiers gathering pointing guns into the tunnel. Theres a pause as something comes out of the tunnel, and one soldier runs off to get Mogambo. When she comes back the others are all looking up at the sky.

The stage directions say: "The bus flies over your heads. Monsters fly out of the tunnel." Mogambo declares a "Code Red" as the soldiers raise their guns as if tracking something flying over them.

Tuesday, January 27

The scene was DT and MR getting onto the bus. MR gets on first, looking rather paniced, talks to the bus driver, then takes her seat. DT follows, flashes his pyschic paper at the driver then takes his seat next to MR.

Saturday, January 24

Filming is going on inside at the moment, so there might not be any set reports for a while.

The only thing to report is that a second bus was transported to Dubai for filming. However, during transit the bus was extensively damaged (a 30 tonne container was dropped on it) so the script is now being altered by RTD.

The BBC has confirmed that Michelle Ryan and Lee Evans will guest star in the forthcoming Doctor Who Easter Special which began filming this week in Wales.

Michelle, best known for her roles as Zoe Slater in EastEnders, and Jaime Sommers in the recent remake of Bionic Woman, will play the mysterious Lady Christina de Souza in the special episode entitled Planet of the Dead. Christina joins the Doctor on a bus-trip which takes a very unexpected detour into danger.

"I'm a huge fan of Doctor Who and very excited to be joining David Tennant and the Doctor Who team," said Michelle. "It is such a fantastic show and I can't wait to get started!"

One of Britain's best loved and biggest comedy stars, Lee Evans, will also be joining the cast playing a character called Malcolm, whose life becomes connected to the Doctor's under extraordinary circumstances.

Planet of the Dead is the first of four Doctor Who Specials which will air in 2009. Michelle joins David Tennant as he continues his role as The Doctor, and Noma Dumezweni who returns as Captain Erisa Magambo - last seen helping Rose and Donna save the world in Turn Left.

"Michelle is one of the most sought after young actors in the country and we are delighted to announce that she will be joining the team," said Executive Producer and writer Russell T Davies. "As always the script is being kept strictly under wraps - however we can reveal that Lady Christina is a woman with a mysterious past who's going to have a huge impact on the Doctor!"

Planet of the Dead, written by Russell T Davies and Gareth Roberts, is currently in production and will be screened on BBC One in Spring 2009.

Also armed police were seen to be arresting a businessman with a pink shirt.

Then the filming moved.

The new stuff covered Doctor and Michelle Ryan sitting on the bus, being followed by half a dozen Police cars. The Doctor was holding one of those flashy gizmos that he keeps on him at all times. I didn't recognise this one, but it looked like they were tracking some kind of phenomenom.

Chortle - Lee Evans to star in special?!This story has now been removed.. so maybe theres some truth to it.. either way Lee Evans is starring in the Jonathan Ross show tomorrow. So I guess we'll find out then :)

"Bionic Woman and EastEnders star Ryan plays the mysterious Lady Christina de Souza, who joins the Doctor on a bus trip which takes a "detour into danger", the BBC said.

Funnyman Evans plays a character called Malcolm, whose life becomes connected to the Doctor's under extraordinary circumstances. "

Wednesday, January 21

I still can't believe the bravery of some people, going out in horrific weather in order to bring us Who goodness!

Filming was of the Number 200 bus (although its destination had changed to Victoria) driving past, full of extras, and heading for the tunnel. 3 police cars were following it.

David Tennant and Michelle Ryan were on set, and they were riding on the lower deck of the bus and sat next to each other. Tennant had something in his hand that had a bright blue light shining (possibly his camera?!)

The scene was the bus coming over the bridge from ikea/morrisons direction and going through the tunnel with the 3 police cars following it with their lights on.

As well as this there was also some 70s-ish vintage cars at the filming base. As alun.vega cleverly pointed out, two of the cars had 'L' registration, which wikipedia dates as 1972-73. They haven't been seen filming though.

Hooray! Seems I missed a lot of filming action whilst I was tucked up in bed last night. Exciting stuff!

From the looks of it, this scene might closely follow on from the earlier filming at the museum. It took place just outside a tunnel which was blocked off. There were lots of police around with some cars, looking inside the tunnel.

A rippling flash of light then came from the tunnel, followed by the still smoking remains of a skeleton.

The lead policeman (who people think is played by Adam James) comes forward to inspect it.

"Call in UNIT - Emergency code one!"

And then of course UNIT turn up in mass - at least 20 or so troops surrounding the tunnel.

Theres also discussion that the UNIT officer Mogambo from Turn Left was about, but this is unconfirmed

UNIT advance towards the tunnel, guns out. The leader tells Adam James that she's 'read the file', and basically ignores his comments, then he says something like 'you don't understand, there are still people on that bus, she's fine'.

So, the bus from the museum shoot Im guessing? There were reports of it being crushed in a photo in the makeup van.

Although this wasn't seen in filming, a big satellite dish was unloaded from the back of a van, along with a pair of trough-like objects...

And, for some very odd reason the trailer behind the Army truck had two canoes on the roof!